ACLU Celebrates Historic Victory as the State’s Civil Rights Law is Amended to Provide Explicit Protections for LGBTQ+ People
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2023
CONTACT: Ann Mullen, (313) 400-8562, amullen@aclumich.org
DETROIT, Mich. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) celebrates the historic passage of legislation that amends the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to explicitly name sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as being protected from discrimination under the law. The ELCRA amendment ensures LGBTQ+ people in Michigan are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and other aspects of daily life. The legislative action follows court rulings that ELCRA prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Jay Kaplan, ACLU of Michigan Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ Rights Project Staff Attorney, released this statement regarding the legislation’s approval:
“Adding this explicit language to our civil rights law has been a decades long fight for the LGBTQ+ community and allies, and we are thrilled that state lawmakers are doing what should have been done long ago. While this legislation is reason to celebrate there is more work to be done, especially as attacks on LGBTQ+ people intensify across the state and nation from attempts to ban LGBTQ+ themed books from schools and public libraries to efforts to stop young trans people from getting the medical care they need. We must remain vigilant, steadfast and active to ensure everyone can live their authentic life safely and freely in Michigan and beyond.”
###
